Donald Driver mystified at getting just three snaps

The Packers’ veteran wide receiver played just three snaps in Sunday’s loss to the 49ers, and said that was difficult to accept, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

“Played in this league a long time and not to play is tough,” Driver said. “No one expects it to happen, but if it happens you deal with it. I’m dealing with it in a good way.”

With Randall Cobb emerging as more and more of a factor, and several other younger options in front of him, such days are something Driver might have to get used to.

Greg Jennings’ injury status could open the door for him this week, but the reality is he’s down the line of options.

“This is a team that has a lot of guys that can make plays,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “It’s a long season, as we saw with last season, maybe Game 1, some people didn’t get as many balls as they wanted to. But you realize by the end of the season those guys are all going to be called on at different times to make plays.”

Driver’s handling the news professionally, and he’s likely to get more opportunities as the season grinds on.

“I’m going to continue to do what I do,” he said. “Practice well, hoping you get your opportunity to have snaps and play the game and be ready. And I’ll be ready when they call.”

But hearing him say it is just a little nudge, and certainly will be better received than other old guys texting coaches to tell them he’s open.

I respect Driver a lot. Guys drafted late have to fight to earn and keep a roster spot, so him lasting this long is a testament to his work ethic and production as a Packer.

That being said, he wanted to come back for another season with Green Bay, despite knowing that Jennings, Nelson, Jones, and Jermichael Finley are all more valuable targets for Aaron Rodgers.

Also, Cobb began emerging a bit last year, so I wasn’t surprised to see Cobb already start playing a bigger role.
A 37-year old receiver shouldn’t have looked at the Green Bay roster and thought, “I’d still get plenty of snaps with those guys.”

The fact that driver did not player, other than the last 3 plays where he came in only because Jennings got hurt, essentially confirms to me that the $2.5 million deal they have him was essentially a payoff to avoid PR backlash they would have dealt with if he was cut.

The Packers are holding onto veterans too long and won’t have young players to replace them when they’re gone. There was no reason to bring Driver back this season other than that he’s a nice guy that they didn’t want to cut.

The Packers are holding onto veterans too long and won’t have young players to replace them when they’re gone. There was no reason to bring Driver back this season other than that he’s a nice guy that they didn’t want to cut.

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I’m not sure about that. He’s there for depth, leadership, and because he was cheap. I’m assuming he is also probably better than Tori Gurley. When are we going to stop snatching up Packer leftovers? Why can’t we find our own players?

Trust me when I say that he wanted NO part in that game. He is too old to take shots from those LBs.

Driver is an ultra-classy guy and a personal favorite of mine, but he should’ve realized this was going to happen. They started moving on from him last year. Call it a career Mr Driver. Good luck in the next phase of your career. I would love to see him in studio on the Network. 🙂

thankheavenfornumberseven posts on every Packers article and says some of the dumbest things. Yep this is an old team on the decline lol, they are 4th or 5th youngest team in the NFL again. And I correct me if I’m wrong but they got rid of Wells, Clifton, Peprah, Wynn, etc this offseason yep hanging onto all the old guys.

Shouldnt have been on the team this year or last, waste of a roster spot. None of the wrs are rookies and have been there several years, veteran leadership is a bunch BS, they kept him to save face after dwts